Cost of Attendance

Each year the Law School sets a cost of attendance for our degree programs. The cost of attendance includes University charges such as tuition and fees that are directly billed to a student on their University student account as well as estimated expenses a student may incur for living expenses (i.e. housing and food), books and supplies, transportation, personal/miscellaneous expenses, and loan fees. The cost of attendance is used by the Law School to determine a student's financial aid eligibility but an individual student's actual budget will vary from this standard cost of attendance depending upon individual taste and circumstances. 

The entering JD cost of attendance listed below is for the nine months of the 2023-2024 academic year (Autumn 2023, Winter 2024, and Spring 2024 quarters). All expenses and allowances outlined below are allocated over all three quarters, with the exception of the Transcript Fee, which is assessed in the Autumn quarter of a student's first year at the University of Chicago.

Figures for the 2024-2025 academic year should be available in May 2024.

For more information on the cost of attendance for 2L and 3L years, or for the cost of attendance for other programs (including 3-Year JD/MBA and LLM), visit the Financial Aid Office's website.

2023-2024 JD 1L Cost of Attendance
Tuition  $76,479
Health Insurance* $4,917
Graduate Student Services Fee $1,398
Transcript Fee $75
Living Expenses, including Housing & Food  $19,758
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $1,785
Personal & Miscellaneous Expenses $3,150
Transportation Expenses  $2,655
Student Loan Fees** $2,442
TOTAL FOR 1L STUDENTS $112,659

*All law students are required to have acceptable medical insurance coverage. Students do not have to join the University's plan if they provide evidence of comparable coverage under their own plan. You can find more information about the University's health insurance plan on the USHIP website.

**Estimated loan fees (for Federal Direct student loan borrowers only). More information about federal student loan interest rates and loan fees can be found on the Federal Student Aid website

Law students may request an increase to their cost of attendance for the purchase of a computer or laptop. The maximum increase available is $1,500 or the documented cost of the purchase, whichever is less. More information regarding cost of attendance appeals can be found in the Law Financial Aid Handbook.

For a complete schedule of the University’s tuition refund policy, please consult the Bursar’s Office website.